Houzz Tour: Retiring to a Midcentury Modern Gem

When retirement beckoned, a Los Angeles couple decided to ditch the sprawling, traditional house where they had raised their four children for something smaller and decidedly more modern. Their find was a 1950s house designed by noted Los Angeles modernist A. Quincy Jones, and renovated and expanded in 2003 by architect Gus Duffy. But the real clincher: views of twinkling city lights and the landmark Getty Center.

Though the house was in move-in condition, the couple asked interior designer Susan Jay Freeman to help them choose new furnishings and accessories to complement the architecture. Freeman, who’d worked on two previous projects with the couple, channeled the home’s midcentury vibe, choosing vintage and new pieces that echoed the zeitgeist of the 1950s to 1970s.

Bright colors and a painting by Ian Falconer greet visitors in the home’s street-level entry.

A short flight of stairs from the entry leads to the home’s main level. The gray, blue and cream hues of the custom Christopher Farr area rug set the color scheme for the rest of the interior.

The bookshelves and coat closet are original to the house. The 1950s walnut credenza is a John Stuart design.

Freeman sourced the home’s furniture from Los Angeles–area showrooms and vintage shops, as well as shops throughout the country and online resources. In the living room, low-profile furnishings keep the focus on the views. The two tables are Argentine and from the 1960s.

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Houzz Tour: Retiring to a Midcentury Modern Gem